Like the opera, symphony, ballet or theatre, our local music is art. And as art, Black Fret believes our music is worthy of support from those whose lives are touched by it. Black Fret provides those who love Austin music with the opportunity to become a Patron of Local Music.

Together our Members, Advisory Board, volunteers and musicians are creating a vibrant community to support Austin’s local music.

Black Fret members pay $1,500 in annual dues. After taxes that works out to about $100/month. Half that with a corporate match. In return Members gain access for you and a guest to over 20 intimate performances a year, participate in a year-long process to share, nominate and lobby for the bands you love, and vote to determine the allocation of grant dollars to those artists. Then in December we gather to celebrate the awarding of those grants at our annual awards show, the Black Fret Ball.

In only three years, Black Fret member dues have funded over $500,000 in grants to exceptional local bands providing much needed financial support to over 300 individual musicians. Black Fret Nominee and Artist profiles are available here: Artists

In addition to funding, Black Fret provides access for our musicians to an Advisory Board comprised of 38 of Austin’s leading music industry professionals.

From engineers and producers to booking agents, managers and entertainment lawyers, the Black Fret Advisory Board provides advice to Black Fret and mentoring to Black Fret Nominees and Artists.

Our shared vision is to build an endowed institution capable of sustaining over a million dollars a year in grants to Austin’s finest musicians. To achieve that we’re looking for a limited group of dedicated local music fans to become members.

Over the next decade we will fund hundreds of exceptional bands to create thousands of new songs while building a new Austin institution capable of supporting the sustained artistic, cultural and economic growth of Austin and the artists who call our city home. We hope you will join us in building a legacy of beautiful music.